My definition of money has changed with time, depending on my prevailing situation.

As a little boy, my family didn’t have that much. Money then meant necessities to me. It was a tool for obtaining essentials of living, especially food. Sometimes it was the only way to get ice cream, biscuits, rent movies, etc. But mostly it was a means to obtain the things we needed to survive.

When I was a young adult, however, my attitude changed. My father had a successful business venture, so we had more money when I was in secondary school. I went to a college where I was more buoyant than most kids, so I had a lot of friends. I began to view money as power and influence. It helped me to acquire the luxuries my peers did not have. I acquired a lot of luxuries. I bought anything I wanted: books, computers, video games, gadgets, etc. I bought things even if I didn’t have the money, just to stay at the top of my peer. I wasn’t under pressure, I put my colleagues under pressure.

Now that I have reached middle-age, money represents freedom. For more than a decade I’ve been chained to the debt I accumulated while pursuing luxuries. I understand what a foolish choice that was. Now I see that money allows a person to pursue the things that are most important to him: friends, fellowship, vocation. If I want to stay home and write full-time, then I must eliminate all debts. I need to accumulate capital to support myself.

I have woken up to the realities around me. For more than a decade I’ve been chained to the debt I accumulated while pursuing luxuries. I understand what a foolish choice that was. Now I see that money allows a person to pursue the things that are most important to him: friends, fellowship, vocation.

Essentially, it helps an individual to have a befitting life.

Therefore, I create something of value and exchange it for money. Now, I can boldly say that money is what I get for solving other people’s problems which in turn helps me to solve my own problems.

Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a particular country or socio-economic context,or is easily converted to such a form. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, sometimes, a standard of deferred payment. Any item or verifiable record that fulfills these functions can be considered money.

For me, money represents peace of mind.

It means I can pay my bills, put food on the table and don’t have to owe anyone. Having money in the bank means I don’t have to worry about money. I only worry about money when it is running low or looking a little uncertain. Simply, it helps me to sleep without worries. Peace of mind.